Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tucson, AZ Cost of Living Comparison Between Chicago, IL and Tucson, AZ

๐Ÿ˜ Solo nomad: Chicago, IL is 17.2% more expensive than Tucson, AZ without rent, and 23.8% more expensive with rent.
๐Ÿ˜ Family of 3: Chicago, IL is 24.9% more expensive than Tucson, AZ without rent, and 35.3% more expensive with rent.
Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.82 $20.82
$18.73 $18.73
11.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$100 $100
$76.4 $76.4
31.28%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.97 $11.97
$12.15 $12.15
-1.48%
Cappuccino
$5.56 $5.56
$5.51 $5.51
0.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.11 $3.11
$2.87 $2.87
8.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 $2.42
$2.26 $2.26
7.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.86 $6.86
$6.1 $6.1
12.46%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.45 $8.45
$6.92 $6.92
22.11%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$0.85 $0.85
22.35%
White Bread (500g)
$4.15 $4.15
$3.41 $3.41
21.70%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$5.52 $5.52
$5.23 $5.23
5.54%
Eggs
$4.65 $4.65
$4.18 $4.18
11.24%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.33 $14.33
$11.05 $11.05
29.68%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$14.88 $14.88
$11.88 $11.88
25.25%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$19.34 $19.34
$15.23 $15.23
26.99%
Apples (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$4.88 $4.88
5.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.98 $1.98
-13.64%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.41 $4.41
$3.96 $3.96
11.36%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.51 $4.51
$4.08 $4.08
10.54%
Potato (1kg)
$2.53 $2.53
$2.39 $2.39
5.86%
Onion (1kg)
$2.74 $2.74
$2.41 $2.41
13.69%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.43 $2.43
$1.98 $1.98
22.73%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.7 $2.7
$2.53 $2.53
6.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$15.19 $15.19
$9.28 $9.28
63.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$16.42 $16.42
$14.77 $14.77
11.17%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.35 $2.35
$2.1 $2.1
11.90%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.7 $3.7
$3.46 $3.46
6.94%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.53 $2.53
$0.73 $0.73
246.58%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$74.1 $74.1
$20.13 $20.13
268.26%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.34 $3.34
$2.83 $2.83
18.02%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.42 $1.42
$1.33 $1.33
6.77%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$25.42 $25.42
$35.69 $35.69
-28.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.87 $0.87
24.14%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$32.4K $32.4K
$31.7K $31.7K
2.35%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.2K $26.2K
$26K $26K
0.76%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$188 $188
$266 $266
-29.26%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$63.7 $63.7
$70.6 $70.6
-9.75%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$65.2 $65.2
$80.5 $80.5
-19.05%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$76.7 $76.7
$40.11 $40.11
91.27%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$13.03 $13.03
$10.08 $10.08
29.27%
Cinema Ticket
$14.93 $14.93
$13.18 $13.18
13.28%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,063 $2,063
$1,076 $1,076
91.63%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$39.2K $39.2K
$15.9K $15.9K
146.29%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$64.3 $64.3
$52 $52
23.58%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$52.4 $52.4
$38.81 $38.81
34.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$95.2 $95.2
$83.2 $83.2
14.41%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$145 $145
$104 $104
38.91%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,378 $2,378
$1,279 $1,279
85.94%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,584 $1,584
$1,127 $1,127
40.61%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$4,763 $4,763
$2,158 $2,158
120.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,815 $2,815
$1,856 $1,856
51.67%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,588 $3,588
$2,762 $2,762
29.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,490 $2,490
$2,440 $2,440
2.07%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Chicago, IL
Tucson, AZ
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,275 $5,275
$3,715 $3,715
42.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.6
6.54
0.92%

Citycost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Chicago, IL: October 29, 2025

Last update for Tucson, AZ: October 27, 2025

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